Tag: GreatLakesNews

{When she left for national duties in Rio, her village was in darkness and her father could not follow the games.}

When the dazzling Faith Chepng’etich Kipyegon set the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro ablaze, she did not know that her gold medal would be the only thing that would trigger the supply of electricity to the little-known Ndabibit Village in Nakuru County where she comes from.

The village has been plagued with darkness for nearly four decades since the residents settled there in the 1980s.

And when she finally jets into the country on Friday, Faith will not only receive a red carpet welcome but will also be stepping into a new look home as her father’s homestead has been connected to power supply thanks to her gold medal.

When she left the country for national duties in Rio, her village was in darkness and her father could not follow the games.

Moments after winning the gold medal in the wee hours of August 17, her father, Mr Samuel Koech Kipyegon, 56, had only one plea to President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“I urge President Uhuru Kenyatta to make sure our village is connected to electricity so that I can see my daughter Faith running and winning medals for Kenya,” said Mr Koech.

And his prayers were answered almost instantly as a day after his plea was exclusively highlighted by the Daily Nation, the Kenya Power team was on the ground dropping power line poles.

POWER IN NINE DAYS

The construction of the power line to Faith’s father’s homestead took a record nine days and last Friday (August 26), Ndabibit Village was a beehive of activity as jubilant residents flocked the homestead to witness the switching on of electricity.

The ceremony was officiated by the Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter who was accompanied by the Kenya Power Managing Director Ben Chumo and Ol Kalou MP David Kiaraho.

“We thank Faith for delivering us from the powers of darkness because as long as we live we shall remember her and the gold she won because today our village has been connected to power because of her sterling performance in the Olympic Games,” said a neighbour, Mr Benard Lang’at.

“I only thank God for giving me such a wonderful daughter who has transformed our village and I pray to God to give her strength and good health so that she can win more medals for Kenya,” said Mr Kipyegon.

The switching on of the electricity at Mzee Kipyegon’s homestead came with a lot of goodies and for the first time, he will be able to follow the exploits of her seventh-born daughter as Samsung has pledged to give him a flat screen TV set while SuperSport will provide him with a decoder.

Mr Keter donated Sh100,000 to the family while M Kiaraho donated Sh10,000 for the purchase of an oven while an official of the scandal-hit National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) who was present pledged to purchase a gas cooker for the family.

{A local company, Betam Communications Tanzania Limited, has asked the High Court to order a Chinese state-owned company to pay them 20bn/- compensation for allegedly breaching a contract relating to installation of the Fiber Optic Cable Network in Tanzania.}

In the suit, being presided over by Judge Zainabu Mruke, the Betam Company, under directorship of Ethiopian Terrefe Ras- Work, is suing the Chinese state company, China International Telecommunication Construction Corporation (CITCC) and CITCC Tanzania Limited, demanding several reliefs.

Ras-Work, who is also an Engineer and Chairman of Ankober Palace Lodge Amba Eco-Tourusm PLC, is the former Head of Africa Division and Policy Advisor of the International Telecommunication Union, a specialised agency of the United Nations.

His Company claims 6,255,000 US dollars from CITCC as agency commission, compound interest at the rate of 10 percent per annum until the date of suit, which is 2,216,926.97 US dollars for period of delay, interests at 10 percent, general and special damages, among others.

Presenting final submissions in the case last Friday, Betam’s advocate Semu Anney told the trial judge that there was existing agreement between the parties in relation to the installation of National Information Communication Technology (ICT) Broadband Infrastructure Backbone Networks in Tanzania.

He submitted that the averments as to the matter were pleaded in the plaint of the suit and specifically admitted on the written statement of defence by the two Chinese companies, who are defendants in the suit in question for the execution of commission agency agreement for the project in the country.

Mr Anney from Makoa Law Chambers submitted that during hearing one of defence witness, a Global Director legal affairs with CITCC, had admitted in her testimony, as to the existence of contractual relations between Betam Communication Limited and the Chinese state company (CITCC).

He told the court further that following Betam’s fulfillments of its obligations as per contract, on April 24, 2007, CITCC managed to secure a lucrative contract for the installation of the Fibre Optic Cable Network valued at 170 million US dollars and Betam’s directors were instrumental towards such success. However, he submitted, the defendants breached the contract as they did not pay Betam Company anything for their contribution to the project, which they were handsomely rewarded.

Among Betam’s obligations as per the contract, according to the advocate, included identification of the project opportunity in Tanzania for CITCC, negotiation of Memorandum of Understanding and cosigning with CITCC and Tanzania and advice on technical, financial and business issues.

Betam Company also made promotion of interests of the CITCC in particular and China in general with Tanzania government officials for the benefit of the two countries and provide support in the implementation of the project as and when required.

CITCC, on the other hand, had to consider project opportunity identified by Betam, evaluate the project and take appropriate actions, consult with Betam on policy matters to ensure its successful implementation and pay appropriate compensation to Betam as per agreement.

Furthermore, the parties agreed the agency commission for project fixed at 3.75 percent of contractual price, 70 per cent of commission shall be paid upon the first withdraw of the money from the financing institution and 30 per cent of commission shall be paid upon the provisional acceptance of project.

During hearing of the suit, the Manager of International Affairs with the two Chinese firms, Li Zhong, told the court that the plaintiff was entitled to nothing from his two companies.

The manager alleged that he does not recognise the plaintiff had never ever transacted with them whatsoever. He denied all the plaintiff’s claims, saying that as a person who was dealing with the project had not known them until 2012, when the suit was lodged.

Mr Zhong told the court that they had made feasibility study for the projects and the plaintiff had no any role to play.

{A source privy to the former president’s health status said that he was recovering well and was even eating.}

Former President Mwai Kibaki will spend at least one more week at a South African hospital.

He is set for a medical review on Monday.

This comes after he underwent a successful surgery to remove a clot in an artery in his neck.

Speaking to the Nation in confidence, a source privy to the former president’s health status said that he was recovering well and was even eating.

Mr Kibaki spent one week at the Netcare Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg, with only his family allowed to visit him.

“His family is renting a lodge opposite the hospital for easy access to the hospital,” said the source.

Mr Kibaki underwent surgery after doctors located the clot in good time while it was in a relatively safe part of his body.

He was flown out of Nairobi last weekend after falling ill while at his Muthaiga home on Saturday and was rushed to Karen Hospital.

The decision to fly him out was reached after doctors at the Karen Hospital determined that he needed specialised treatment.

Dr Harun Otieno, an interventional cardiologist at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi explained that although blood clots are the body’s natural mechanism to stop bleeding, it can be dangerous especially if the clot gets into organs such as the brain, heart and the lungs, leading to either heart attacks or strokes.

“Blood clots can occur either in the veins, which take blood to the heart or the arteries which take blood away from the heart,” said Dr Otieno.

{TheTanzania Tourist Board (TTB) has encouraged members of the public to travel to Njombe and Mbeya regions to witness the annual solar eclipse set to occur on September 1st, this year, at Wanging’ombe and Ruweja districts.
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Addressing journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the Acting Director of Marketing at TTB, Mr Philip Chitaunga, said the incident will occur at around 10am to 1pm and centred over Tanzania is expected to attract eclipse chasers from around the world and across the country.

“People in Tanzania will witness first-hand the sun go evening- dim at midday as more than 90 per cent of the sun will be covered by the moon in a partial solar eclipse, leaving the sun as a thin crescent,” said Mr Chitaunga.

He said since the incident will take place in the country, Tanzania expects to receive a big number of experts and tourists from across the globe, saying it is thus a great opportunity to promote the country and the many tourist attraction sites located along the Southern Highlands.

“TTB as the responsible tourism promotion organ we have been promoting various awareness campaigns aimed at attracting the attention of people to go to Mbeya and Njombe to witness the annual solar eclipse,” he noted.

Mr Chitaunga said a team of experts is already at Wanging’ombe and Ruweja districts to observe the entire process until the actual date.

He said that this event can be exploited by pupils, students and teachers to vividly learn on the occurrence of the annual solar eclipse which is usually taught theoretically in schools.

{A Security Officer, Bernard Obeto (35), appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam yesterday facing six counts of forgery, unauthorised possession of stamp and unlawful possession of travel documents.}

Obeto, who is stationed at the Tanzania Airport Authority, was charged alongside a Ugandan national, Mugabe Moses (37), who was not brought before the court. Before Principal Resident Magistrate Magreth Bankika, Obeto denied the charges.

He was remanded until September 5, when the court will deliver the ruling on application for bail. In the case, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has presented a certificate to object bail to the accused person on grounds that if bailed out the safety and interests of the Republic would be prejudiced.

Prosecuting, State Attorneys Paul Kadushi and Wankyo Simon told the court that on March 11, this year in the city, with intent to defraud, the accused persons forged working permits bearing different numbers.

The prosecution alleged that such permits bore names of Peter Moses Mugabe and Musa Setuba. The accused persons allegedly purported to show that the two documents were issued by Labour Commissioner, while it was false.

It was alleged further that on March 22, this year, in the city, with intent to defraud, the accused persons forged two resident permits bearing different numbers in the names of Musa Setuba and Peter Moses Mugabe, showing that they were issued by Immigration Department, while it was untrue.

Obeto was charged with a separate count of unauthorised possession of stamp, an offence that falls under the National Security Act. The prosecution alleges that such offence was allegedly committed on August 10, this year at Tabata Kinyerezi areas in Ilala District.

The prosecution told the court that without lawful authority, Obeto was found in possession of a rubber stamp closely resembling to the rubber stamp of the Immigration Department.

Such stamp had an impression reading, “Immigration Officer allowed to stay for three months employment with or without pay is strictly prohibited in Tanzania,” an act which is prejudicial to the safety of the United Republic of Tanzania.

The court heard further that on the same day and areas, the security officer was also found in possession of a Tanzania Diplomatic Pass number 0154 issued to Embassy of China, which does not belong to him and failed to hand it over to the holder or Immigration Department.

{Statistics at the police Directorate of Fire and Emergency Response have shown more than 300 people drowned in the last three years.}

Statistics at the police Directorate of Fire and Emergency Response have shown more than 300 people drowned in the last three years.
According to the police, the most tragic incident was in 2013 which involved 150 nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Lake Albert. The police rescued over 60 whereas nearly 90 passengers lost life.

“The victims had been refugees and they were going back to their homeland via Ntoroko district. The wooden boat they were sailing on was over powered by the waves since it was too rigid to maneuver,” Mr Joseph Mugisa, the directorate’s commander said on Tuesday.
Mr Mugisa said 100 people drowned in Lakes such as Lake Albert, Victoria, Rivers; Nile and Mayanja as a result of overloading, hitting rocks and lack of life saving jackets.

“Most drowning incidents on lakes and rivers are a result of overloading, wooden and old canoes which are not up the standards. Such boats are shuttered by strong water waves,” Mugisa said on Tuesday while speaking to this newspaper at his office.

Other 100 people have drowned in ponds and valley dams in the cattle corridors especially Rwizi and Savannah regions that include districts of Ibanda, Kiruhura, Sembabule,Luwero, Nakaseke and Nakasongola.

The police say the causes of the drowning in Rwizi and Savannah regions ranged from swimming to cool bodies due to hot temperatures, rescuing drowned cattle and curiosity.

“People in the cattle corridors drown because they usually experience hot temperatures during the dry season. This forces them to try swimming purposely to cool bodies,” he said.

He continued, “The cattle also drown in a bid to access streams since the shallow water sources usually dry up. The shepherds are usually attempted to rescue their cattle and end up dying in the waters.”

In Kampala Metropolitan (KMP) area that covers the areas of Kampala, Wakiso, Entebbe and Mukono, the causes of drowning according to Mugisa include alcohol, peer influence, curiosity and floods that usually hit most of the suburbs during heavy down pours.

“Most of the drowning incidents in KMP are due to alcohol. The victim drowned when they tried swimming under the influence of alcohol. Others go swimming because of band wagon. They want to show they know and end up being washed away by waves,” he stresses.
At least 50 people have so far downed since the start of this year in beaches, rivers and lakes. On Monday, five people from the same family drowned in Lake Bunyonyi after their locally made boat they were sailing capsized in the middle of the lake.

On July 25, four students from St Joseph Butenga Secondary School in Bukomansimbi district and Prince Kalema SS in Masaka drowned in Lake Nabugabo during a beach party.